Lord Phillips to be first president of supreme court

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, will be the first president of the UK's supreme court when it opens in October 2009. In the meantime he will become senior law lord, succeeding Lord Bingham, who retires in September.

The move is the first in a shake-up at the top of the judiciary that will see a new lord chief justice appointed and three law lords appointed to replace those retiring before the new court opens for business.

Dame Mary Arden is tipped to become the second woman in the top court.

Sir Anthony Clarke, master of the rolls, may also go up to the Lords. Frontrunner for the job of lord chief justice is Sir Igor Judge, head of criminal justice and president of the queen's bench division.

Phillips, 70, was a law lord before being appointed master of the rolls in 2000. He became lord chief justice in 2005, and is following the career path blazed by Bingham, who moved from the same job to be senior law lord. Phillips has used lectures, writings and appearances before parliamentary committees to criticise the actions of politicians - such as in sentencing laws affecting the size of the prison population - that have had an impact on the criminal justice system.

This week Phillips said: "Our criminal justice system has been put under pressure by legislation, some of which has reflected the politicisation of sentencing."

He has also voiced fears that prisoners are in danger of being locked up indefinitely due to media clamour for tougher penalties, and that jails will face serious problems controlling inmates.

Phillips will be in charge during the transition to the new supreme court, whose premises are being constructed inside the former Middlesex Guildhall in Parliament Square, London.

A moderniser, Phillips helped end the wearing of wigs by judges in civil court cases. He has got two children, is a stepfather and a grandfather, and he relaxes by climbing mountains and swimming outdoors throughout the year.

Sign up for the Guardian Today

Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.